Indians top prospect Francisco Lindor was promoted to Triple-A Columbus following the RubberDucks’ 2-0 loss to Richmond on Monday night.

The move comes almost exactly a year after Lindor was promoted to Double-A on July 13, 2013.

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera left Monday’s game in the third inning with an apparent injury. The timing was purely coincidental, as Lindor’s promotion was decided on Sunday night.

“You never expect to go somewhere else,” Lindor said. “You work for it.”

Known for his status as an elite defensive shortstop, the switch-hitting Lindor has also been the Ducks’ most consistent hitter, maintaining a .356 on-base percentage with six home runs and 25 steals through the first 87 games of this season.

RubberDucks manager Dave Wallace says that Lindor had little left to prove with regards to his talent entering the year. The organization was siply looking for Lindor to pick up some nuances of the game that come with experience.

Wallace has been Lindor’s manager each step of the way since Lindor began his career in the Indians organization with Mahoning Valley in 2011.

“The coaching staff I have, I’ve had since I signed pretty much. They’ve helped me to become a better man, a better player. I thank them every day. I’ve been away from my family, this has been my family.”

Lindor, 20, was already one of the youngest players in Double-A and is moving through the organization’s ranks quickly. He expects to be the everyday shortstop at the big-league level by 2015, if not sooner.

“He’s the best 20-year-old I’ve ever watched play,” Wallace said. “And its more than just physical play and adjustments. It’s the mental side of it. The focus, the preperation, all of that. He excels at all that and that’s why he’s put himself in such a good position.”